Religion Gone Astray by Mackenzie, Falcon, & Rhaman. Judaism, Christianity and Islam. Mahatma Gandhi made a lifelong commitment to social. In Jung’s view, the modern individual, for whom all the gods are dead, must look to the forces within for answers to the spiritual problems which plague them. In finding answers, he thought one will not only be curing the spiritual sickness which afflicts them personally, but will also be contributing to the renewal of a world gone astray in the darkness of State domination.
Welcome to the deeper dimensions of interfaith dialogue-exploring that which divides us personally, spiritually and institutionally.' We believe that interfaith dialogue holds the key to a healing that calls us back to purpose and to meaning. We have risked confronting aspects of our traditions usually hidden, and the consequences have been deeply life-affirming. We risk b Welcome to the deeper dimensions of interfaith dialogue-exploring that which divides us personally, spiritually and institutionally.' We believe that interfaith dialogue holds the key to a healing that calls us back to purpose and to meaning. We have risked confronting aspects of our traditions usually hidden, and the consequences have been deeply life-affirming.
We risk becoming vulnerable as we share awkward and even unacceptable texts and interpretations, but it is this very vulnerability that allows our dialogue to move forward.' - from the IntroductionExpanding on the conversation started with their very successful first book, the Interfaith Amigos-a pastor, a rabbi and an imam-probe more deeply into the problem aspects of our religious institutions to provide a profound understanding of the nature of what divides us. They identify four common problem areas in the Abrahamic faiths:Exclusivity Staking Claim to a One and Only TruthViolence Justifying Brutality in the Name of FaithInequality of Men and Women The Patriarchal Stranglehold on PowerHomophobia A Denial of LegitimacyThey explore the origins of these issues and the ways critics use these beliefs as divisive weapons. And they present ways we can use these vulnerabilities to open doors for the collaboration required to address our common issues, more profound personal relationships, and true interfaith healing. This is a well-written exploration of - and the interactions between - Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.
The three co-authors (a pastor, a rabbi, and an imam) candidly look at the serious issues of exclusivity, violence, sexism/inequality, and homophobia within their religions' scriptures and traditions, and they share related personal experiences. They also review what they feel to be the core teachings shared among their religions (oneness, unconditional love, and compassion) and use those t This is a well-written exploration of - and the interactions between - Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. The three co-authors (a pastor, a rabbi, and an imam) candidly look at the serious issues of exclusivity, violence, sexism/inequality, and homophobia within their religions' scriptures and traditions, and they share related personal experiences.
They also review what they feel to be the core teachings shared among their religions (oneness, unconditional love, and compassion) and use those teachings to. The uglier aspects of the divisive issues. Each topic concludes with exploratory questions and suggested spiritual practices to continue the work on your own (or in a group).Although I enjoyed this book, and I do recommend it, I must take at least a little issue with its titular claims of getting to the 'Heart of Interfaith.' Each of these gentlemen espouse, at least in passing, that monotheism is superior. And, aside from a few one-liners about Buddhism, Hinduism, Atheism,. Environmentalism, this book is squarely in the camp of Abrahamic traditions. So, at best, these authors got to the heart of Ecumenicism.
Still, it's a far deeper Ecumenicism than I've seen up to now. And, perhaps, this book, with its arguments against Judaism, Christianity, and Islam's claims to an exclusive Truth, represents a necessary first step in Abrahamic reconciliation that must occur before adherents of the Big Three and join in true Interfaith dialog. We read this for a book group and I generally liked it - because I agreed with it.
After 9/11, Rabbi Ted Falcon, Pastor Don Mackenzie and Imam Jamal Rahman developed a close friendship and subsequent interfaith dialog. In this book they highlight what they believe are their religion's 'core' teaching (Oneness, Unconditional Love, Compassion) and they talk about areas in which their religion's texts are inconsistent with core teaching.
They identified five troublesome areas where they believe ea We read this for a book group and I generally liked it - because I agreed with it. After 9/11, Rabbi Ted Falcon, Pastor Don Mackenzie and Imam Jamal Rahman developed a close friendship and subsequent interfaith dialog. In this book they highlight what they believe are their religion's 'core' teaching (Oneness, Unconditional Love, Compassion) and they talk about areas in which their religion's texts are inconsistent with core teaching.
They identified five troublesome areas where they believe each of their religions have struggled with compatibility between text/tradition and core teaching - Exclusivity, Violence, Inequality of Men and Women, Homophobia, God and Revelation. I especially liked the chapter on God and Revelation. One of my favorite quotes is from Imam Jamal - 'If the Face of Allah is everywhere, it behooves us to spend less time and energy on trying to 'understand' God and more time living in a way that expands our awareness of God in every face we meet.' A discussion from the three Abrahamic perspectives of some of today's main difficult areas in these religions: exclusivity based on having the only truth, violence justified by religion, inequality of men and women promoted by religion, and homophobia. There is some good material here, which would be particularly useful to people within the Abrahamic traditions (which I am not).
Statements like the following about God made me glad I read it: 'That name-which-is-not-pronounced consists of the fou A discussion from the three Abrahamic perspectives of some of today's main difficult areas in these religions: exclusivity based on having the only truth, violence justified by religion, inequality of men and women promoted by religion, and homophobia. There is some good material here, which would be particularly useful to people within the Abrahamic traditions (which I am not). Statements like the following about God made me glad I read it: 'That name-which-is-not-pronounced consists of the four Hebrew letters yod-hay-vav-hay and is a form of the three-letter verb root hay-yod-hay, which means 'to be.'
The unspoken name, comprising these four letters, can best be translated 'That which is.' The name refers to Being without limitation of time or space.' (Rabbi Ted Falcon). The second book written by these three faith leaders, addresses some of the more difficult questions in each tradition. Each author wrote a section on the problems of exclusivity, violence and brutality, inequality of men and women, and homophobia or the denial of legitimacy.I especially liked the depth of theological insight each author shared in the section following the specific discussion of the four 'difficult topics'.There is much to consider in this book and the authors give specific que The second book written by these three faith leaders, addresses some of the more difficult questions in each tradition. Each author wrote a section on the problems of exclusivity, violence and brutality, inequality of men and women, and homophobia or the denial of legitimacy.I especially liked the depth of theological insight each author shared in the section following the specific discussion of the four 'difficult topics'.There is much to consider in this book and the authors give specific questions to ponder as the reader works through each chapter.